Mount Hope Bleeds: City Stalls, Bodies Fall

Steel met steel at dawn. The box truck flipped. Three people hurt—two in the ambulance, one in the truck. Sirens wailed. All went to Jacobi. The cause is still a question. The Bronx street stayed dangerous.

ABC7 reported on April 15, 2025, that an ambulance and a box truck collided at Pelham Parkway South and Williamsbridge Road in the Bronx just after 6:30 a.m. The article states, "The box truck overturned in the crash. Three people were hurt: the box truck driver and two ambulance workers." All were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The cause remains under investigation. The crash highlights risks at busy intersections and the potential for severe outcomes when large vehicles collide. No driver actions have been detailed yet. The incident underscores ongoing safety concerns for workers and drivers on city streets.

• Ambulance, Truck Crash Injures Three Bronx, ABC7, Published 2025-04-15

A stolen car slammed into a Manhattan building. Flames followed. The driver, Francisco Guzman Parra, died on impact. His family waited days for answers. Police actions now face scrutiny. The city counts another life lost to speed and steel.

The New York Times (April 12, 2025) reports on the death of Francisco Guzman Parra after a stolen Honda CRV crashed into a building in Inwood, Manhattan. The crash followed a police chase; two officers involved were suspended pending investigation. The article notes, "The police are investigating whether the officers left the scene without reporting the crash." The medical examiner found Guzman Parra died from blunt impact and thermal injuries. The NYPD force investigation unit and state attorney general are reviewing the incident. The police have not disclosed why the chase began or details about the pursuit. The case highlights ongoing questions about police pursuit policies and the dangers that follow high-speed chases through city streets.

• Police Chase Ends Inwood Crash Death, The New York Times, Published 2025-04-12

Council passed a law forcing DOT to post sharp, regular updates on street safety projects. Progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and signals must go public. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. The city must show its work.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, it passed Council on April 10, 2025, and became law May 10, 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' Council Member Julie Won led sponsorship, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law demands DOT post annual and monthly updates on every project tied to the master plan—listing details, timelines, funding, and setbacks. This law brings sunlight to street safety work, making the city answer for every mile and missed deadline.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Council passed a law forcing DOT to post sharp, regular updates on street safety projects. Progress on bike lanes, bus lanes, and signals must go public. No more hiding delays or cost overruns. The city must show its work.

Bill Int 1105-2024, now enacted, came through the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Introduced November 13, 2024, it passed Council on April 10, 2025, and became law May 10, 2025. The bill's title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code...in relation to tracking progress made towards the requirements of the streets master plan.' Council Member Julie Won led sponsorship, joined by Brooks-Powers, Hanif, Ayala, and others. The law demands DOT post annual and monthly updates on every project tied to the master plan—listing details, timelines, funding, and setbacks. This law brings sunlight to street safety work, making the city answer for every mile and missed deadline.

• File Int 1105-2024, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-04-10

Senate bill S 7336 pushes more speed cameras and targets hidden plates. Sponsors want sharper eyes on reckless drivers. School zones stay under watch. The city’s most vulnerable stay exposed.

Senate bill S 7336, now in sponsorship, aims to expand photo speed violation monitoring in New York City. The bill, titled 'Relates to the use of certain photo speed violation monitoring systems for the purposes of enforcement of license plate obstruction; repealer,' lets cameras catch drivers who hide or alter plates and extends speed camera use in school zones. Senator Andrew Gounardes leads, joined by Brad Hoylman-Sigal and Luis R. Sepúlveda. The bill’s focus: more enforcement, less evasion. No safety analyst note yet, but the intent is clear—more eyes on the street, more pressure on reckless drivers.

• File S 7336, Open States, Published 2025-04-10

A man walking on Jerome Avenue was hit and hurt. He suffered bruises to his leg and foot. The crash happened after midnight. No driver errors or causes listed. The street stayed silent. The wound did not.

According to the police report, a 44-year-old man was injured as a pedestrian on Jerome Avenue near East Burnside Avenue in the Bronx at 12:05 a.m. He sustained contusions and bruises to his knee, lower leg, and foot. The report states he was conscious at the scene. No driver errors or contributing factors, such as failure to yield or distraction, are listed. The vehicle type is unspecified, and no details about driver actions appear in the report. The police document focuses on the pedestrian's injuries and does not assign fault.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4803231 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two sedans crashed on E 175 St in the Bronx. Both drivers suffered injuries, including a concussion and upper arm trauma. Police cited unsafe speed as a contributing factor. The collision caused significant front-left bumper damage to both vehicles.

According to the police report, two sedans collided on E 175 St near Jerome Ave in the Bronx at 14:22. Both drivers were injured: a 31-year-old man sustained a concussion and head injury, and a 36-year-old man suffered upper arm and shoulder injuries. Both were restrained with lap belts and harnesses and were not ejected. The report lists 'Unsafe Speed' as a contributing factor to the crash, indicating driver error. The vehicles, traveling south and north respectively, impacted each other on their left front bumpers, causing damage to both. No other contributing factors or victim behaviors were noted in the report.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801843 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A Mercedes slammed into Darryl Mathis Jr.'s stalled car on the Major Deegan. Mathis called for help, then for an ambulance. The driver fled. Paramedics rushed Mathis to the hospital. He died. The killer behind the wheel vanished into the night.

NY Daily News reported on March 24, 2025, that Darryl Mathis Jr. was killed when a Mercedes-Benz rear-ended his disabled Ford on the Major Deegan Expressway. Mathis, stranded after his battery died, called friends for help. As one friend recounted, 'He called to get a jump, and after that, he got hit from behind, a hit-and-run.' The Mercedes driver fled the scene and has not been caught. Mathis was transported to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he died. The crash highlights the dangers faced by stranded motorists on city highways and the deadly consequences when drivers flee. No policy changes or enforcement actions were detailed in the article.

• Hit-And-Run Kills Stranded Bronx Motorist, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-24

A black Mercedes slammed into a Ford on the Major Deegan. Both cars spun out. The Mercedes driver ran. The Ford driver died at St. Barnabas. Police closed the highway for hours. No arrests. The city’s roads stay deadly.

NY Daily News reported on March 22, 2025, that a 39-year-old driver was killed after a black Mercedes-Benz rear-ended his Ford Crown Victoria on the Major Deegan Expressway. The article states, “The hit-and-run driver responsible escaped on foot, police said.” Both vehicles lost control and crashed. Emergency services transported the victim to St. Barnabas Hospital, where he died. The Mercedes driver fled the scene, and no arrests have been made. Police closed the southbound lanes for several hours during the investigation. The crash highlights the lethal consequences of rear-end collisions and the persistent risk posed by hit-and-run drivers on New York City highways.

• Bronx Highway Hit-And-Run Kills Driver, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-22

A box truck struck a sedan from behind on the Cross Bronx Expressway. The sedan driver suffered head injuries and whiplash but was conscious and restrained. Both vehicles were traveling westbound, colliding center to center front and back ends.

According to the police report, at 17:30 on the Cross Bronx Expressway, a 2018 HINO box truck traveling westbound collided with the rear of a 2017 Nissan sedan also traveling westbound. The point of impact was the center front end of the truck and the center back end of the sedan. The sedan driver, a 32-year-old male, was injured with head trauma and whiplash but remained conscious and was wearing a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors but does not cite any pedestrian or cyclist involvement. The collision involved two licensed male drivers from New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The data indicates a failure to maintain safe distance or control by the truck driver, resulting in the rear-end collision. No victim behaviors or crossing signals were noted as contributing factors.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800372 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 71-year-old woman suffered bruises and a lower arm injury after a cyclist distracted by inattention struck her at a marked crosswalk. The impact caused moderate injury but no vehicle damage. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal.

According to the police report, a male cyclist traveling south on East Burnside Avenue collided with a 71-year-old female pedestrian at a marked crosswalk. The pedestrian was crossing without a signal when the collision occurred. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' twice as the contributing factor, indicating the cyclist failed to maintain proper attention. The impact point was the center front end of the bicycle, which sustained no damage. The pedestrian suffered contusions and injuries to her elbow, lower arm, and hand, classified as moderate injury severity. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. The report explicitly identifies the cyclist's distraction as the cause, with no mention of pedestrian fault or contributing behaviors. This incident highlights the dangers posed by inattentive cyclists to vulnerable pedestrians at intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797905 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Two men suffered head injuries and whiplash in a rear-end crash in the Bronx. Both were conscious but injured. The collision involved a sedan and an SUV, both parked, struck from behind by a vehicle traveling southbound on Grand Concourse.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 4:37 AM in the Bronx near 1749 Grand Concourse. Two occupants, a 27-year-old male driver and a 32-year-old male front passenger, were injured with head trauma and whiplash. Both were conscious and not ejected from their vehicles. The collision involved a sedan and a station wagon/SUV, both parked and struck in the center back end. A third vehicle traveling southbound made contact with the center front end of the sedan. The report lists the contributing factors as unspecified, with no mention of victim fault or pedestrian involvement. The crash highlights the dangers of rear-end impacts and the vulnerability of vehicle occupants even when stationary.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797318 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Senate bill S 5801 demands licenses and insurance for e-scooter riders. No license, no sale. Sponsors push manuals and safety lessons. The city’s streets stay risky for those outside cars.

Senate bill S 5801, sponsored by Luis R. Sepúlveda and co-sponsored by Joseph P. Addabbo Jr., sits at the sponsorship stage. Filed March 3, 2025, it aims to 'establish a bicycle and electric scooter operator's safety manual' and require licenses and insurance for e-scooter riders in New York City. The bill bars sales to unlicensed, uninsured buyers. It also folds scooter safety into driver education. No safety analyst has weighed in on the impact for vulnerable road users. The measure’s focus is paperwork, not street design or driver accountability.

• File S 5801, Open States, Published 2025-03-03

Three women suffered neck and back injuries when sedans struck parked cars on Mount Hope Place. All remained conscious. Driver errors were listed but not specified. No pedestrians or cyclists involved.

According to the police report, a crash occurred at 4:50 AM on Mount Hope Place in the Bronx. Three female passengers, ages 30, 31, and 39, were injured with neck and back complaints. All remained conscious and were not ejected. The crash involved multiple sedans, with at least two parked vehicles struck on their left sides and rear bumpers. The police report lists unspecified contributing factors related to driver actions, indicating driver error but does not specify violations such as failure to yield or speeding. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The use of safety equipment by the injured is unknown.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795949 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A 75-year-old woman was struck by an eastbound SUV at a Bronx intersection. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal when the vehicle’s right front bumper made impact. She suffered severe lower leg injuries and remained conscious after the collision.

According to the police report, a 75-year-old female pedestrian was injured at the intersection of E 176 St and Grand Concourse in the Bronx around 16:10. The pedestrian was crossing against the signal when she was struck by a 2017 Chevrolet SUV traveling eastbound. The vehicle impacted the pedestrian with its right front bumper. The pedestrian sustained fractures and dislocations to her knee, lower leg, and foot, classified as injury severity level 3, but remained conscious. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead. The report lists the pedestrian’s action of crossing against the signal as a contributing factor, but does not cite any driver errors or vehicle damage. The collision highlights the dangers present at intersections where pedestrian signals are not obeyed.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795941 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

A moped slammed into a minivan in Soundview. Two teens thrown. One died. The other survived. The driver stayed. Police probe who had the right of way. Another young life lost on Bronx streets.

Gothamist (2025-02-25) reports a fatal crash at Metcalf Avenue and East 172nd Street in the Bronx. A 17-year-old, Juan Alexander Quizhpi Naranjo, drove a moped with a 14-year-old passenger when they collided with a Honda Odyssey. Both were thrown from the moped. Quizhpi Naranjo died at Jacobi Hospital; the girl survived. The minivan driver, 42, remained at the scene and faced no charges. NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad is still determining 'who had the right of way and whether a traffic violation played a role.' This marks the second traffic death this year in the 43rd Precinct, highlighting ongoing dangers for young road users.

• Bronx Teen Killed In Moped-Minivan Crash, Gothamist, Published 2025-02-25

On Webster Avenue, a turning SUV blocked a moped’s path. The moped struck the SUV’s front. The rider’s helmet split. His head took the blow. He stayed conscious, injured and alone. The SUV rolled on, untouched. The street went silent.

A crash occurred on Webster Avenue near Ittner Place in the Bronx, involving a station wagon/SUV and a moped, according to the police report. The report states the SUV was making a left turn when the moped, traveling straight, collided with the SUV's right front bumper. The moped rider, a 30-year-old man, suffered crush injuries to his head. The police report attributes the collision to 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way.' The moped rider's helmet cracked under the impact, but he remained conscious at the scene. The SUV sustained no damage, while the moped absorbed the force. The police report does not cite any victim behavior as a contributing factor. The crash underscores the danger faced by vulnerable road users when drivers fail to yield.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793291 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-08-04

Assembly bill A 5440 targets reckless drivers. It makes car owners pay when their vehicles run red lights. Cameras catch the lawbreakers. The aim: fewer crashes, safer streets for all.

Assembly bill A 5440 was introduced on February 14, 2025, and is in the sponsorship stage. The bill, titled "Imposes owner liability for failure of an operator to comply with traffic control indicators within the city of New York," seeks to hold vehicle owners accountable when their cars violate traffic signals, using camera enforcement. Assembly Member Steven Raga sponsors the bill, joined by Rebecca Seawright, Tony Simone, Yudelka Tapia, Karines Reyes, and Marcela Mitaynes as co-sponsors. No safety analyst note is available. The bill aims to curb dangerous driving and protect vulnerable road users by making owners answer for violations caught on camera.

• File A 5440, Open States, Published 2025-02-14

Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13

Council orders DOT to repaint pavement lines within five days after resurfacing. Delays must be explained to the public. Clear markings mean fewer deadly gaps for walkers and riders.

Int 1160-2025, now enacted, passed the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and full Council in February 2025. The law demands the Department of Transportation install pavement markings or temporary lines within five business days after any street resurfacing. If DOT misses the deadline, it must notify the public and explain the delay. The bill’s matter title: 'A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to installing pavement markings.' Council Member Farah N. Louis led as primary sponsor, joined by Brannan, Schulman, Banks, Farías, Carr, and Ariola. The law took effect March 15, 2025. Timely markings close the deadly window when streets lack crosswalks and lanes, protecting people on foot and bike.

• File Int 1160-2025, NYC Council – Legistar, Published 2025-02-13